Last month I attended my annual training session that's required for maintaining
my state prison security clearance. During the training session there was a
presentation by three speakers representing the Roman Catholic, Protestant and
Muslim faiths, who explained each of their beliefs.
I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say. The Imam
gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete with a video.
After the presentations, time was provided for questions and answers. When it
was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked: "Please, correct me
if I'm wrong but I understand that most Imams and clerics of Islam have declared
a holy jihad [Holy war] against the infidels of the world and, that by killing
an infidel, (which is a command to all Muslims) they are assured of a place in
heaven. If that's the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?"
There was no disagreement with my statements and, without hesitation, he
replied, "Non-believers!"
I responded, "So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers of Allah
have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can have a
place in Heaven. Is that correct?"
The ____ _expression on his face changed from one of authority and command; to
that of "a little boy who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar."
He sheepishly replied, "Yes". I then stated, "Well, sir, I have a real problem
trying to imagine Pope John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your
faith or Dr. Stanley ordering all Protestants to do the same in order to
guarantee them a place in Heaven!"
The Imam was speechless.
I continued, "I also have problem with being your 'friend' when you and your
brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me! Let me ask you a
question. Would you rather have your Allah, who tells you to kill me in order
for you to go to Heaven, or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I am going
to Heaven and He wants you to be there with me?"
You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head in shame.
Needless to say, the organizers and/or promoters of the 'Diversification'
training seminar were not happy with Rick's way of dealing with the Islamic Imam
and exposing the truth about the Muslims' beliefs. In twenty years there will
be enough Muslim voters in the U.S. to elect the President! I think everyone in
the US should be required to read this but with the liberal justice system,
liberal media, and the ACLU, there is no way this will be widely publicized.
This is a true story and the
author, Rick Mathes, is a well known leader in prison ministry.
About the only truth in what he wrote is the fact that he attended a training session in a Missouri prison.
The supposed "imam" was a volunteer inmate, because they didn't have a Muslim minister on hand. He showed a short film, and answered what questions he could, and no such exchange as Mathes describes took place.
It is also flatly untrue that "most Imams and clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the infidels of the world and, that by killing an infidel, (which is a command to all Muslims) they are assured of a place in heaven."
We have enough real problems with Islamic extremists. We don't need to propagate this kind of garbage against the 1 1/2 billion Muslims who aren't giving us any trouble
Location: West, Central Florida, Third World America
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We have enough real problems with Islamic extremists. We don't need to propagate this kind of garbage against the several billion Muslims who aren't giving us any trouble
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Troy, they are all in lock step. The operative word is "Now". "Now" they are being good. What about later when their leaders command action? Deal with them all "Now"...and there will not be a later.
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"They cannot be trusted.....The Romulans (our politicos) are without honor." Worf
Troy If what you say about there being 1 1/2 billion muslams that don't believe in this way of thinking, why havent they stopped the so called few extremists, or at least spoken out against it?
Troy If what you say about there being 1 1/2 billion muslams that don't believe in this way of thinking, why havent they stopped the so called few extremists, or at least spoken out against it?
Maybe for the same reason that two billion Christians worldwide didn't rise up in protest when a Christian country invaded a Muslim one under false pretenses...
Smart-!!! answers aside, some of them do speak up. Most of them just go about their everyday lives, like other religions do. And some of them are scared of being jumped by the same nuts who are attacking the West.
Rufus: if they're all in lockstep, why are Sunni's killing Shi'ites and vice-versa in Iraq and Pakistan? Why did that Sunni group blow up a bus yesterday and kill eleven members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard? Why are Fatah and Hamas in a shooting war in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip? Why are Kurds, Arabs and Turkemen fighting each other in Kurdestan?
The extremists are so busy killing each other in the name of Allah, it's a wonder they have any time for us...
Jeez, Troy, you make it hard for me to not like you! Just when I think you've learned to type wearing a straight jacket you haul off and say exactly what Im thinking! Couldnt have said it better myself. I just wish you would use that same factual rational when talking about our government.
__________________ "I'm your huckleberry. Thats just my game!"
Jeez, Troy, you make it hard for me to not like you! Just when I think you've learned to type wearing a straight jacket you haul off and say exactly what Im thinking! Couldnt have said it better myself. I just wish you would use that same factual rational when talking about our government.
As often as I pop off, there's bound to be a time or two when you agree with me...
Jack Tymann served on and chaired the Clinton-Mubarak Presidents’ Council for the Middle East. Today, he serves on the board of AMIDEAST, a Washington-based nonprofit for mutual understanding between Americans and the Arab world through education. He writes a great article. Guest commentary: The wrong voices are leading the jihadists to victory
I read this thread a while ago, and I had to think long and hard about it before responding.
Yes, there are commands within the Koran regarding killing of infidels to make your way to paradise. Yes, some folks take this literally and have become what we now understand to be 'extremists.'
I am reminded of the Christian Bible stating "an eye for an eye" and "a tooth for a tooth." I also am reminded of the Bible stating that ownership of slaves is proper and right.
I am also reminded of the general religious belief that if you don't do what your god says, you will spend eternity in H3LL. My question is, who would want to spend eternity with someone (God) who says: "If you don't do exactly what I say, exactly what I expect, when I say it and when I expect it, I will condemn you you to a lifetime of pain and suffering" ??? Hmm, that sounds like a peaceful dude, right? That is like a mom telling a 4 year old: "If you don't learn to tie your shoes today, I am going to disown you and leave you on the doorstep of a pedophile's house" ...and then following through with it! It just doesn't make sense to me.
My point IS NOT to say that any religion is worse than another.
My point IS to say that all religions have facets of them that the peacefull members of those religions would probably rather not have those things part of their religion and part of their religion's history.
You can not condemn the entire religion because of a few unwanted commands or facets of that religion. As well, each religion has a certain percentage who takes it more literally than others.
The Christian religion has had a long history of balancing itself out to become a somewhat peacefull belief. Christian history has been full of REAL wars over religion and sects up until the US came to be. With the start of the US, western civilization began to take hold in much of the world. The Western way of acceptance and multiculturalism has made us a more peacefull people.
The Muslims and Middle East, in particular, never had this chance. They were left behind when people began migrating across the ocean. There were many more Muslim Extremists in that time than there are now.
Now, Muslims have an opportunity to break free of their opression, to remove themselves from their hatefull ways. The great majority of Muslims do not follow that command to "Kill Infidels to make it to Paradise." This is just as much so as a member of a Christian faith denying the idea of "an eye for an eye" or "do not eat pork, shellfish, or having slaves because it is right, etc..."
The way to help the peacefull Muslims is not to opress them. The way to help the peacefull Muslims is not to hate their religion. The way to help the peacefull Muslims is not to condemn them all for the bad few. The way to help these people is to remove their irrational leaders, their hateful Shieks, their kill-happy educators and give the opportunity to the peacefull folks to become the leaders, the speakers of their religion. This is the only way to stop this atrocity. This is the only way to allow them the justice and freedom that the Western Civilization has offered so many other religions.
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Don't let their ignorance and hate intimidate.
Well said. And exactly what I thought would happen in Iran with the new generation. But what I think is going to have to happen is we are going to have to take the gloves off and get busy fighting a real war. When enough of the innocents get killed in the cross fire maybe they will grow some b@#*s and turn against the crazies.
__________________ "I'm your huckleberry. Thats just my game!"
frozen, exactly, we are going to have to go full bore. We can not do this half-assed combat we are doing in Iraq. We need to either put at least 750,000 to 1 million troops in the region to make a dent. If we are not willing to do that, get the h3ll out now!
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Don't let their ignorance and hate intimidate.
It's also fiction 
Troy, they are all in lock step. The operative word is "Now". "Now" they are being good. What about later when their leaders command action? Deal with them all "Now"...and there will not be a later.
don't let it worry you, frozentorso 
